Photography Course Syllabus

CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: Mrs. Simmons
Email: ssimmons@sad6.k12.me.us
Course Website: http://www.sad6.k12.me.us/~ssimmons/photo.html
Class Wiki: http://behs-ga.pbwiki.com

TEXTBOOK
Title: Black & White Photography: A Basic Manual
Author: Henry Horenstein
Edition: Third, Revised
Website: http://www.bw-photography.net

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course covers black and white photography. The following are some of the topics covered: F-
stops, depth of field, lenses, history and appreciation of photography, composition, film processing, use
of a darkroom, and making enlargements from negatives. Students will use a 35 mm SLR cameras in a
manual mode to take photographs. No point and shoot cameras may be used. Students will purchase
film and photographic paper via a supply fee. Students will also be using a digital camera, Photoshop
software, scanners, and color printers to produce pictures.

SUPPLY FEE
There is a supply fee of $10 for this class. It needs to be handed in to me within the first week of the
quarter. Darkroom materials will be withheld until the supply fee has been turned in. If you are
financially unable to pay $10, please see me as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made.

CAMERAS
If you have access to your own film SLR camera or your own digital camera, please check with me to
see if they will be suitable for use in this class. The school does own some cameras for those of you who
do not have your own. However, using your own camera would permit you to take more photos outside
of school.

GRADING AND ATTENDANCE

Attendance and behavior in this class is very important. Therefore, Quarter Grade
your attendance will count towards your grade. I will count the History Project 10%
number of days that the class was held and then divide that by the Assignments 40%
number of days that you were here (including your excused Videos & Quizzes 20%
absences). That will become your attendance grade. It is your Attendance & Behavior 30%
responsibility to speak with me about any work that you miss. We TOTAL 100%
will discuss proper behavior, as well as how it will be assessed,
during the first class. Late assignments can be submitted up to 1 Exam Grade
week after the original due date for 80%. They will not be Portfolio 100%
accepted after that. TOTAL 100%
WEATHER Final Grade
In the event that school is canceled, the schedule for that day will be Quarter Grade 80%
pushed to the next day that we are in school. If school is closed on Exam Grade 20%
Friday, you have until Monday to finish the assignments for that GRAND TOTAL 100%
week.

1
 Photography Course Syllabus
WEEKLY AGENDA
We will cover at least one chapter of the textbook every week with the workbook assignment(s) for that
chapter being due every Friday. All assignments are accessible online via the class wiki. You may com-
plete the assignment any day prior to the due date. I recommend that you do not leave the assignment
until the last moment. Some chapters are quite long and will require more time to complete. Please give
yourself plenty of time to complete the online assignment. You cannot save it and start back up again.
You have to complete it all at one time. We will also be speaking about at least one compositional tech-
nique each week. The photos that you take during that week should demonstrate your understanding of
that technique.

Week 1 Week 5
• Student Information • Chapter 6: Film Exposure
• Industrial Technology Safety Test • Work with SLR Cameras
• Photography Safety Test • Technique: Framing
• Course Supply Fee Week 6
• Chapter 1: Beginnings • Chapter 10: Making the Print
• Technique: Simplicity • Technique: Avoiding Mergers and
Week 2 Creating Depth
• Chapter 2: Camera Types Week 7
• Chapter 5: The Shutter • Chapter 8: Lighting
• Work with Holga Cameras • Work with Digital Cameras
• Technique: The Golden Mean • Photoshop
Week 3 • Technique: Lighting
• Chapter 9: Film Developing Week 8
• Start History Project • Chapter 4: The Camera Lens
• Technique: Lines and Pattern • Work with Digital Cameras
Week 4 • Photoshop
• Chapter 3: Black-and-White Film • Technique: Depth of Field
• Finish History Project Week 9
• Work with SLR Cameras • Final Portfolio
• Technique: Balance